Legislators, students split on allowing guns on college campuses

Published 5:08 pm, Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Local legislators and students are split on legislation that would allow students, faculty and staff with concealed handgun licenses to carry handguns on college campuses to and from classes.

Several bills in the state House and Senate have reached the committee level, and several of Montgomery County's legislators support the idea.

"I do support it. I've been hearing about people who are nervous about it. People envision kids having a good time and drinking and shooting up their towns," said. Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands. "When you think of college kids, there is that concern, but I have been through the training and it's pretty rigorous to learn the law and to be proficient with the gun."

Eissler and his House colleagues Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, have signed on to a version of a bill working its way through the House.

State Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, is listed as a coauthor of a version of the bill in the Senate.

While Eissler said he understands the feeling of those who oppose the law, he believes the legislation would do "more good than harm" and could prevent school shootings such as the one at Virginia Tech University in 2007 where 32 people were killed.

"People who intend to arm now don't know who could be armed," he said. "Some teacher just might be packing and he can take care of the situation."

The crime rate of states with concealed handgun licenses is lower than those without the law, Eissler said. Since the concealed handgun license was passed in 1995, more than 400,000 Texans have obtained licenses.

Last year, 3,446 license were issued to Montgomery County residents alone.

The only college in Montgomery County is not taking a stance on the issue. Steve Scheffler, dean of college affairs for Lone Star College-Montgomery, said the college is monitoring the legislation.

"It's something that we're looking at, and we understand that there is a strong possibility that this could pass," Scheffler said. "If it does, we will comply with the law.

"There isn't a position we're taking as a college."

However, several students at the school don't like the idea of concealed guns on campus, including Kandace Goodwin, 22, of Conroe, and Peter Palmisano, 22, of The Woodlands.

Goodwin said she was not too worried about her safety on the campus located on Texas 242 but said she has heard of muggings there and would worry that guns would increase safety problems.

"I actually don't worry about (my safety), but if that passed, then I might be worried," said 19-year-old Marisela Tovar, of Cleveland. "It sounds kind of dangerous. I don't really think it's a good thing to do."

While Eissler said he did not know when the legislation could pass or what stage the various bills were at, he believes the legislation "will pass in the House."

For more information about the bills or other legislation, go to the Texas Legislature's website at capitol.state.tx.us.